* [[Bansko]] (Банско) &mdash; a beautiful old town in the Pirin mountains with refurbished homes, stone wall, and cobblestone streets, but increasingly being overtaken by resort hotels, as this is a major ski destination in Southeast Europe. Not far away from Bansko, there are hot-water mineral springs, located at the villages of Banya (Баня) and Ognianovo (Огняново).

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* Dupnica - A large town at the foot of the Rila mountain.It's located 65km (40 miles) south from Sofia and 35 km (21 miles)north from Blagoevgrad.This is a quiet town with a beautiful nature and a great view to the biggest mountain in Bulgaria - Rila.The town is famous as the "Little Italy", due to the great number of people who have gone to work in in many cities there.Another reason for this nickname are the many used car lots,in which most of the cars are brought in from Italy.

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* [[Belitsa]] (Белица) {{-}} the park where the last three "dancing bears" of Bulgaria, ending a long and cruel tradition with their liberation in 2007, now live is here

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* [[Blagoevgrad]] (Благоевград) &mdash; the largest city of Southwest Bulgaria known for the beautiful nature that surrounds it, the many local cultural sights and festivals

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* Blagoevgrad - the center city of Southwest Bulgaria.It's located about 90km(50 miles)south from the capital Sofia.Blagoevgrad is known for the beautiful nature that surrounds it,the many local cultural sights and festivals.This is a busy and fast growing city.One may enjoy here many aspects of bulgarian national culture - the traditions live on here.Blagoevgrad is located in the northeast part of the historical geographic area of Macedonia. The town is famous for it's nightlife , supported by a great number of pubs,called here krychmi or mehani(In Bulgarian - кръчми and механи)

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* [[Borovets]] (Боровец) {{-}} wintersports resort close to the national capital, Sofia

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* [[Devin]] (Девин)

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[[Melnik]] (Мелник) - sample wonderful red wines from the region, see the sand pyramids, and take the long hike to [[Rozhen Monastery]]

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* [[Dupnitsa]] (Дупница) &mdash; a large town at the foot of Rila Mountain

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* [[Kustendil]] (кусендил) &mdash; This small town just over the border from Macedonia is a lovely place to visit. Sit in one of the many terrace restaurants and watch the world go by.

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* Goce Delchev

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* [[Melnik]] (Мелник) &mdash; sample wonderful red wines from the region, see the sand pyramids, and take the long hike to Rozhen Monastery

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* [[Pamporovo]] (Пампорово) &mdash; ski resort in Rhodope Mountains, where you can glimpse a view of as far away as Greek coast

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* [[Bansko]] (Банско) - a beautiful old town in the Pirin mountains with refurbished homes, stone wall, and cobblestone streets, but increasingly being overtaken by resort hotels, as [[Bansko]] is a major ski destination in South-East Europe. The highest peak of Pirin Mountain (Vihren - 2916m) is at a day's walk from the city. In the middle of August, the Bansko Jazz Festival [http://www.banskojazz.com/] is held here. Not far away from Bansko, there are hot-water mineral springs, located at the villages of Banya (Баня) and Ognianovo (Огняново).

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* [[Pernik]] (Перник) &mdash; A rather sad post-industrial city. The centre area is much improved in recent years, but there is a lot of poverty and hardship.

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* [[Samokov]] (Самоков) {{-}} city with some communist architecture, and the hub of the nearby ski resorts

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* Razlog

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* [[Sandanski]] (Сандански)

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* [[Semkovo]] (Семково) &mdash; a mountain resort 17 km to the north of the town of [[Belitsa]], situated south of the main ridges of the Rila Mountains, nestling in a wide field among pine forests

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* [[Semkovo]] (Семково) - a mountain resort 17 km to the north of the town of [[Belitsa]]. It’s situated south of the main ridges of the Rila Mountains, nestling in a wide field among pine forests.

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* [[Smolyan]] (Смолян) &mdash; a great destination for holiday makers and nature lovers, this municipality town is famous for its planetarium center, drama theater, historical museum. Several kilometers away is the ski resort of [[Pamporovo]].

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* [[Velingrad]] (Велинград) &mdash; a city is surrounded by the Rhodope Mountains, with more than 90 mineral springs nearby, making it the city with the most mineral springs in a country rich with these vital waters

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* Panagurishte

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* Kostenec

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* [[Velingrad]] (Велинград) - The city is surrounded by the Rhodope Mountains. There are more than 70 mineral springs nearby, making it the city with the most mineral springs in a country rich with these vital waters.

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* Samokov

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* Kustendil

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* Pernik

==Other destinations==

==Other destinations==

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*[[Pirin|Pirin National Park]] &mdash; a great hiking destination in summer with beautiful landscapes, lakes, and the second highest summit of the country

==Understand==

==Understand==

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The people in the Southwest region are very friendly and will gladly be your host. They are very caring and they for sure treat their guests with respect.

==Talk==

==Talk==

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==See==

==See==

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[[Image:Bulgaria_Rila_Monastery.jpg|thumb|300px|Rila Monastery]]

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* '''Rila Monastery''' (Рилски манастир) &mdash; a [[UNESCO World Heritage List|UNESCO World Heritage site]] and one of the most popular and beautiful places in all of Bulgaria &mdash; one of the centers of both the religious and cultural spirit of the Bulgarian nation. Founded in the 10th century, it is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia. It is traditionally thought that the monastery was founded by the hermit St.John of Rila (Ivan Rilski), whose name it bears, during the rule of Tsar Peter I (927-968).

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: The monastery has a spectacular architecture which is well combined with the picturesque nature of the Rila Mountain. Inside the complex, the main church stands in the center of the inner ring. The entire church is decorated with amazing wood-carving, and it's famous for the gold-plated iconostasis. Outside the Rila Monastery, you can find a variety of little pubs and restaurants, where one can experience the fine Bulgarian cuisine. There are a lot of gift shops for the tourists with reasonable prices.

===Itineraries===

===Itineraries===

Revision as of 00:17, 15 November 2012

Contents

Regions

Cities

Bansko (Банско) — a beautiful old town in the Pirin mountains with refurbished homes, stone wall, and cobblestone streets, but increasingly being overtaken by resort hotels, as this is a major ski destination in Southeast Europe. Not far away from Bansko, there are hot-water mineral springs, located at the villages of Banya (Баня) and Ognianovo (Огняново).

Belitsa (Белица) — the park where the last three "dancing bears" of Bulgaria, ending a long and cruel tradition with their liberation in 2007, now live is here

Blagoevgrad (Благоевград) — the largest city of Southwest Bulgaria known for the beautiful nature that surrounds it, the many local cultural sights and festivals

Borovets (Боровец) — wintersports resort close to the national capital, Sofia

Semkovo (Семково) — a mountain resort 17 km to the north of the town of Belitsa, situated south of the main ridges of the Rila Mountains, nestling in a wide field among pine forests

Smolyan (Смолян) — a great destination for holiday makers and nature lovers, this municipality town is famous for its planetarium center, drama theater, historical museum. Several kilometers away is the ski resort of Pamporovo.

Velingrad (Велинград) — a city is surrounded by the Rhodope Mountains, with more than 90 mineral springs nearby, making it the city with the most mineral springs in a country rich with these vital waters

Other destinations

Pirin National Park — a great hiking destination in summer with beautiful landscapes, lakes, and the second highest summit of the country

Understand

The people in the Southwest region are very friendly and will gladly be your host. They are very caring and they for sure treat their guests with respect.

Talk

Get in

Get around

See

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery (Рилски манастир) — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular and beautiful places in all of Bulgaria — one of the centers of both the religious and cultural spirit of the Bulgarian nation. Founded in the 10th century, it is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia. It is traditionally thought that the monastery was founded by the hermit St.John of Rila (Ivan Rilski), whose name it bears, during the rule of Tsar Peter I (927-968).

The monastery has a spectacular architecture which is well combined with the picturesque nature of the Rila Mountain. Inside the complex, the main church stands in the center of the inner ring. The entire church is decorated with amazing wood-carving, and it's famous for the gold-plated iconostasis. Outside the Rila Monastery, you can find a variety of little pubs and restaurants, where one can experience the fine Bulgarian cuisine. There are a lot of gift shops for the tourists with reasonable prices.